If you have not yDNA tested, then it is strongly recommended that you do so. The recommended company for testing is FTDNA. They have the largest and oldest database and your chances of finding a genetic cousin are greater.

Surnames in this Project:Our project is open to any male of any of the listed surnames or to any man believing that he is descended from one of the listed surnames:

Participants are sought from all parts of the world. If you don't see your surname variant spelling, please ask, it can be added to the list.

Who can test?

The tested individual must be a male in order to check his paternal line (father's father's ... father's and so on line). yDNA is passed only from a father to son and from any of his sons to their sons and so on. Females interested in this project should look for a father, brother or male cousin that bears one of the surnames above that is listed for this project.

Females can also order a test for themselves, which will be the mtDNA or mtDNAPlus, but the results of their test do not tie to the Surname Project generally speaking. An mtDNA test will only yeild results of a female's mother's mother ... and so on back in a straight line. This type of test generally is used to disprove relationships, but can be used to prove them. It is very difficult to use mtDNA in conjunction with genealogy.

The test will be conducted byFamily Tree DNA, of Houston TX, the World's leading testing company for Surname DNA Projects. All tests include an estimate of the "Haplogroup" (an indication of deep ancestry).

We personally recommend the largest number of markers that you can afford. Most serious researchers will eventually upgrade to 37 markers - if they don't start there. These are the costs of a yDNA test when you join a project such as this one.

67 marker test $239

37 marker test $149 (Recommend test for use with genealogy research)

25 marker test is $124

12 marker screening test is $99

Add $2 for US postage and $4 for international postage

The test is a simple cheek swab. The kit will arrive and leave your house by mail. You simply rub the inside of your cheek a number of times with a special scraper, put the kit back into the envelope, and put it in the mail.